Paper-drying machine



W. M. BARBER.

PAPER DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1 920.

Patented June 13, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. M. BARBER.

PAPER DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29,1920.

Patented Jun 113, 1922.

4SHEETSSHEET 2.

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PAPER DRYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29,1920.

1,419,534}. PatentedJune 13 1922.

4 SHEE TSSHEET 3.

WVE /TQ 1 W. M. BARBER.

PAPER DRYING. MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED. JUNE 29,1920v Patented June 13, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNHTED ST aTES PATENT WILLIAM M. BARBER, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSAGHUSETT$ RAPER-DRYING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lViLLIAM M. BARBER,- of Somerv'ille, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paper-Drying Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The present invention relates to a paper drying machine for drying paper in a continuous web. It also pertains to a machine by which the paper is dried artificially by the application thereto of preferably heated air under compression as differentiated from the pole-drying of paper.

The essential object of my invention is to obtain an artificially-dried paper just as strong and intact in fibre as a pole-dried paper. As well known to those skilled in the art, the principal objection to the artificial drying of paper in the continuous web resides in the fact that the web of paper is apt to become weakened during the operation of drying on account of its contraction. In other words, as the paper contracts such contraction is not properly compensated for in the operation of the machine with the result that the web becomes stretched and the fibre of the paper thereby weakened. Various expedients have been employed to overcome this difficulty and with more or less success. In all, however, in so far as I am aware, the web is subjected to more or less tension drag during its running which tends to stretch and disrupt the fibre especially before the web has become set by the drying. It is accordingly the further object of my invention not only to adequately dry the web of paper by artificial means, but more particularly, to so support and carry it during the drying that it will be practically free from all drag, tension or strain upon its fibre, however much the web may contract during its drying.

While it is my special object to obtain by an artificial drying paper as good as poledried paper, it is my further object to over come the various objections incident to the pole-drying of paper among which may be mentioned loss of time and expense in drying; also, waste of paper from improper cutting, pole marks and uneven drying. i According to my present invention the paper is initially Specification of Letters Patent. Patcemtrgdl June 13, $1922,

1920. Serial No. 392,824.

dried quickly, evenly, without waste and with great saving of labor.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the machine or such portion thereof as is sufiicient to show the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of certain of its parts.

Figs. 4 and 5 are a plan and side elevation, respectively, of a tension device used in the machine.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of certain of the working parts of the machine.

Fi 7 is a vertical cross section of the airdistributing units to which reference will later be made.

Referring to the drawings The frame of the machine comprises various parts in the nature of uprights, side and end bars and other connecting bars suitable for supporting or carrying the various elements of the machine and which will incidentally be referred to when reference is made to such elements.

Suitably arranged within the frame which is of considerable length are a number of individual heat-distributing units of which 1 and 2 and 3 are examples. Each of these units comprises sets of ducts' i, 5 and 6, re-

spectively, horizontally arranged to extend laterally across the frame. The various sets of ducts lie one above the other with a space separating them and at the bottom of'each unit a single one of the ducts 5 is employed spaced from the bottom set of ducts and to which special reference'will later be made.

It is by means of air compressed within the ducts and directed to issue therefrom into the spaces between the various sets of ducts that the web a of paper is dried. The web a entering the machine at the'top is directed to pass through the spaces by and between the top sets of ducts and those sets next adjacent to it; thence the web of paper is returned and passed alter; nately back and forth through the spaces and'by and between the remaining sets of ducts, finally passing beneath the lower sets of ducts and by and between these ducts and the single duct 5 as referred to above.

' the ducts is directed to issue against the web I of paper. The ducts are made thus conon which the web rests and which prefer-' 'tracted in order that the air compressed within them from the open end thereof may issue evenly from the ducts against the web of paper, or, in other words, with the same relative degree of force.

Air is directed into and compressed within the ducts by fitting the several ducts of each of the individual units with a hood 8 forming a wind chest 9. Air is directed into this chest through preferably an inlet 10 in the mouth of which is arranged a fan 11 by which air isnot only directed into thechest, but compressed therein and within the venous ducts connecting with the chest.

Just forward of each one of the fans 11 within the inlet 10 is arranged a heat-distributing radiator 12 which may be heated in any suitable manner and operates to heat the air directed by the fan to pass by itinto the wind chest in order that the air compressed within the wind chest and various ducts and directed againstthe web may be heated. air.

While there are shown. in the drawings but three of the heat-distributing units, it will be understood that as many of these units may be employed as are necessary for eiiicientworking. In practice three units have been found ample, provided each unit is fitted with a sufficient number of air-distributing ducts, which may be varied as occasion demands. The number of ducts and arrangement indicated in the drawings for each unit is that preferably employed In its passage back and forth through the spaces by and between the various ducts of the several units the web is borne by conveyors running in reverse directions depending upon the direction of the running of the web. Each of these conveyors has a set of spaced rolls 14 and 15, respectively, around which are passed a number or set of endless spaced bolts 17 consisting of cords or tapes ably run in grooves 18 in the respective rolls. The rolls 14 and 15 are mounted to turn within uprights or'posts 19 at. the opposite ends of the frame; The endless belts borne by the rolls have running extension into and through the spaces between the ducts of the several units and are so disposed that the. web carried by them will pass both beneath and above the slits in the ducts through which the air is issuing. T o assist in guiding the belts during the operation of the machine idler rolls 20 are employed over which the belts run. These rolls are mounted to turn between sets of uprights or posts 21 along the sides of the machine which form a portion of the frame.

The endless belts 17 are held taut each by means of a suitable tension device 22. There is preferably employed a tension device of well-known character as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 around which the belts are passed. These devices are secured by brackets 23 to cross-bars 24 preferably arranged at points between the heat-distributing units and se cured to sets of the uprights or posts 21 at the sides of the frame.

The disposition of the slits 7 in the various ducts is such that the air issuing from the ducts, or certain of the ducts, may op-- erate to hold the web onto the endless belts.

I also prefer that air may be applied to both the topand'under surfaces of the web for purposes of drying. In this connection it will be observed that the slits or openings 7 in all of the upper set of ducts 3, 4 and 5 of the respective units beneath which the web of paper initially passes are disposed on the under side of the ducts so that the air issuing therefrom may issue directly onto the web for holding it on the belts 17. The slits or openings 7 are also made on the under side of all of the remaining ducts 4 and 6 so that air issuing therefrom may operate to hold the web on the belts as they pass transversely back and forth through the machine. The slits or openings 7 in each one of the remaining ducts 5, however, are formed in the top side of the duct so that air issuing therefrom may strikethe under side of the web passing above the duct. Air issuing from these ducts 5 against the under side of the web will not operate to lift the web from the belts owing to the fact that for every duct from which air is issuing against the under side of the web and which might tend to lift the web there are two adjacent ducts from which air is issuing againstthe top side of the web for holding the web in place, the resultant efiect being to hold the web in place.

In order to carry the web back and forth in its passage through the machine the endless belts are operated to run in reverse directions. As previously described, the belts are carried by rolls 14 and 15, respectively, at opposite ends of the machine and around which'the belts are passed. Of these'the rolls 14 are driven rolls and the rolls 15 mounted to idle. With the exception of the rolls to the bottom conveyor all the driven rolls are driven 1n a manner permitting of I direction of their turning. Eac of the telesalrollsl, with the exception of the driven roll 14. of the bottom conveyor, has secured to its shaft a cone pulley 26 driven from off a cone pulley 27 through the speed-changing device 28 of a type well known to, those skilled in the art. The speed-changing devicesare controlled from the frontside of the machine, for changing the speed of the pulleys 26 and rolls driven by them, by rods 29 having handwheels 30 on the ends thereof. Each of the cone pulleys 27 is borne by a shaft 31 on which the pulley is suitably mounted to turn upon the frame of the machine. Fixed to these shafts are gears 32 and interposed betwen these ,gears and in mesh therewith are'idler gears 33 by which all of the cone pulleys,27 for each end of the machine maybe simultaneously driven in the same direction for driving the parts operated by them. The idler gears 33 are carried by shafts 34; mounted in any suitable manner on the frame of the machine.

The cone pulleys 26 thus connected for each end of the machine are driven byan application of power to the upper ones of these pulleys at the opposite ends of the machine, the shafts 31 of these top pulleys each carrying a pulley 35 to which power is applied. Power is applied to the pulleys 35-from off a main driving shaft 36 through suitably arranged pulleys and belt connections 37. The main shaft 36 is driven from any suitable source of power (not shown).

The bottom one of the conveyors is driven from off the shaft to the driven roll 14 of the conveyor just above it by the gear 32 on said shaft in mesh with a gear 38 on the shaft of the driven roll 1 L-0f the conveyor (see Fig. 2). 9

Accordingly all the conveyors are driven simultaneously from off the main drive shaft. In this connection it is to be noted that the fans 11 are also driven from off the main shaft 36 through suitably-arranged pulleys and belt connections 39.

During its passage through the machine the web will enter between the rolls 14: and 15 of adjacent conveyors but out of contact therewith,the web having contact only with the cndlessbelts 17 upon which it rests and by which it is borne. The arrangement is also such as to permit of any contraction of the web during its drying and such contraction is further compensated for by the speedchanging devices forthe various carriers.

The web willacco-rdingly be relieved of all drag, tension or strain whichmight otherwise tend to disrupt, straighten or otherwise weaken the interlaced it is composed.

As the web passes out of the machine from off" the bottom conveyor, it is taken up by any suitable take-up or winding mechanism (not shown) after first being passed to exfibres of which ducts arranged in adjacent around an idler'roll 40,

tend downwardly a1 and a further thence around a tension roll idler 42, all of which rolls are suitably mounted on the name of the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 2- 1. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, series of air-distributing ducts arranged on-adjacent lines by and between which the web runs, saidducts being provided with openings by which air compressed therein may be directed to issue therefrom against the web, means for supplying air under compression to said ducts, a number of conveyors having parts running by and between said ducts for receiving, supporting and carrying the web, and. means for operating said conveyors.

2. in a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, series of air-distributing ducts arranged on adjacent lines by and between which the web runs, said ducts being provided with openings by which air compressed therein may be directed to issue therefrom against the web, means for supplying air under compression to said ducts, a number of conveyors having parts running by and between said ducts for receiv ing, supporting and carrying the web, means for operating said conveyors, and means whereby the speed of said conveyors may be changed.

3. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, the combination of series of air-distributing ducts arranged in adjacent lines and between which the web is directed to run in reverse directions, said ducts being provided with openings by which air compressed therein may be directed to issue therefrom against said web, means for supplying air under compression to said ducts,

a number of conveyors presenting parts running by and between said ducts in reverse directions for receiving, supporting and carrying the web, means whereby said conveyors may be simultaneously operated, and means whereby the speed thereof may be changed as occasion requires. s

4:. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, series of air distributing lines and by and between which the web is directed to run in reverse directions, said ducts being provided with openings by which air com.- pressed therein may be directed to issue therefrom against the web, means for supplying air under compression series of endless spaced belts arranged to run in reverse directions by and between the ducts for receiving, supporting and carrying the web, and means for operating said belts. p

In a machine for \drying paper in a to the ducts,-

be directed to issue therefrom against .the'

web for drying it and holding it in place on said belts during the running thereof, and means for supplying air under compression to said ducts.

Gflln a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, a number of conveyors adjacent one another and arranged to run in reverse directions whereby they may receive, support and carry a web of paper,

means for operating the conveyors, and means for supplying air under compression against the web thus carried for drying the web and holding it in place on said con:

veyors.

7. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, the combination comprising separate lines of separate endless spaced belts by and between which a web of paper is directed to run in reverse directions and be carried on said belts, means for operating the belts, and means whereby air under compression may be directed against the web of paper thus carried.

8. In a machine for drying paper ina continuous web, the combination comprising separate lines of endless spaced belts by and between which a web of paper is directed to run in reverse directions and be carried on said belts, means for operating the belts, means whereby the speed thereof may be changed, and means whereby air under compression may. be directed against the web carried as aforesaid.

9. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, the combination comprising a number or" conveyors by and between which a web of paper is directed to run in reverse directions and be carried thereby, each of said conveyors having spaced rolls and endless spaced belts arranged to run around said rolls, means for automatically controlling said belts to run taut, means for operating the conveyors, means whereby the speed thereof may be changed," and means whereby air under compression may be directed onto the web carried by said conveyors.

10. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, series of air=distributing I tween said ducts, means for simultaneously operating said conveyors to run inreverse directions according to the variation in the direction of running of said web, and means for controllin the speed of said conveyors, said ducts being arranged whereby the air emanating therefrom will act to hold the web onto the said endless belts 11. In a machine for drying paper in a continuous web, series of air-distributing ducts disposed on adjacent lines and' by and between which the web runs in reverse di rections, said ducts being provided with openings and otherwise arranged whereby air compressed therein may be directed to issue therefrom against both the top and under sides of said web, means for supplying air under compression to the ducts, a

.number of conveyors each. comprising a number of endless spaced belts adapted to receive and support the web and carry it by and between said ducts, means for operating said conveyors to run in reverse. directions according to the direction of running of the web, and means for controlling the speed of the conveyors.

12. In arnachine for drying paper in a continuous web, the combination with the frame of the machine, of a number of conveyors arranged to run in reverse directions and adapted to receive, support and carry the web backward and forward in its passage through the machine, means for oper= ating said conveyors, means for controlling the speed thereof and means forsupplying air to both the upper and-under sides of the web thus carriedand whereby, also the web may be held in place on said conveyors by the air applied to the top side of the web,

WILLIAM M. BARBER. 

